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jaybee2003
Member
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
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| Posts: | 272 |
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Posted: 18 Nov 2006 07:47 am |
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At last he rose, and twitch'd his mantle blue
Tomorrow to fresh woods, and pastures new.
Fresh woods and pastures new? There are some who would say Milton's foresight has already come to fruition......twice.
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David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 2006 10:29 pm |
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Brash resigned today.
Thank goodness for that. Now we know that the Labour Government is well and truly finished.
I will have to learn how to smile again.
Here is the New Zealand Herald's report:
National leader Don Brash resigns
1.30pm Thursday November 23, 2006
Don Brash has just resigned as leader of the National Party. He had called a press conference at 1pm after mounting revelations about his leadership in a book by researcher Nicky Hager.
Dr Brash made his announcement to a press conference called at short notice. Ongoing speculation about his leadership was damaging National Party and its election prospects, he said. His resignation would take effect from a special caucus meeting on Monday, he said.
Don Brash told reporters: "It has become increasingly clear in recent months that there's a growing expectation that I'll step down well ahead of the next election. That ongoing speculation is damaging to the National Party, and to our future prospects. Accordingly, as we approach the end of the Parliamentary year, I've decided to resign as Leader with effect from a special caucus meeting which I'll call for early next week. "
Dr Brash said that he had been considering reiigning for several weeks.
"For some weeks now, I've been giving consideration to the right time, and the right way, to announce this decision. I've held off because I've been very keen to have two untidy matters dealt with before my departure."
He said that two matters had needed to be cleared away; National's problems with GST during the election campaign and his emails stolen and then leaked.
Dr Brash refused to say whether he would continue as an MP, telling reporters if he was offered a spokesperson or senior portfolio role he would be inclined to stay on but if he was offered "deputy assistant spokesman for consumer affairs" he probably wouldn't.
Dr Brash has transformed National into a respected, potent and feared Opposition after it took a record drubbing in the 2002 election. He came within a sniff of winning the 2005 election, but his leadership has been marked by a series of gaffes that have raised questions about his judgement.
Dr Brash took over as leader in October 2003, rolling Bill English in a coup. Even that did not run smoothly, with Nick Smith being appointed his deputy, then having to be hastily replaced by Gerry Brownlee.
Dr Brash reignited National as a political force with his controversial Orewa speech in January 2004. He used race relations to fire National to support in the high 40 per cent range, one of the most dramatic turnarounds in New Zealand political history. But Dr Brash was to prove fatally flawed as a politician.
Political consultants Saunders Unsworth described him as a true gentleman -- but not good on policy detail. Dr Brash also proved naive, attacking the Labour Party on areas where he was himself vulnerable, such as the sanctity of marriage when he had himself had admitted having an affair.
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erick
Member
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Posted: 26 Nov 2006 07:29 am |
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Agreed. National now at least has a chance without blubbering Brash. His (Brash) political career is over, thank goodness.
And hopefully so is Labour's. They have done more than enough damage. And then some.
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David Harcourt
Administrator
| Joined: | 31 Dec 1969 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1127 |
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Posted: 12 Dec 2006 06:20 pm |
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Has there ever been a more rapid and painless eclipse of a party leader in New Zealand before?
One moment he was there, like the Cheshire Cat.
Then there was just an awkward smile, hanging in the air.
And then there was nothing.
It was if Brash was a child's sketch on a blackboard, erased in a moment by a busy teacher.
I am reminded of A J P Taylor’s comment on Charles de Gaulle:
"Can dreams really become true? Or do they remain dreams, even if men enact them in waking life?"
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